Will Oakland
Will Oakland (January 15, 1880–May 15, 1956) was an American countertenor famed for his exceptionally high vocal range. He was born Herman Hinrichs in Jersey City, New Jersey, to German-American immigrant parents. Oakland began his musical career after leaving the United States Army in 1905, joining Lew Dockstader's minstrels in Rochester, New York. He began recording for Edison Records in 1908, soon after Richard Jose's retirement. In addition to appearing as a solo performer, Oakland recorded duets with Billy Murray, sometimes singing the female part in love songs. He often sang woeful, sentimental songs that contrasted with Murray's usually upbeat repertoire. From 1912 to 1914 Oakland recorded in the Heidelberg Quintet, joining the members of the American Quartet. He recorded the song "As I sat upon my dear old mother's knee" by Joseph P. Skelly. |
Birth and Death Data: Born January 15, 1880, Died May 15, 1956
Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1909 - 1929
Roles Represented in DAHR: countertenor vocal, lyricist, songwriter
= Recordings are available for online listening.
= Recordings were issued from this master. No recordings issued from other masters.
Recordings (Results 26-50 of 123 records)
| Company | Matrix No. | Size | First Recording Date | Title | Primary Performer | Description | Role | Audio |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Victor | B-12181 | 10-in. | 7/11/1912 | Waiting for the Robert E. Lee | Heidelberg Quintette | Male vocal quartet, with orchestra | vocalist, countertenor vocal | |
| Victor | B-12241 | 10-in. | 7/26/1912 | My little lovin' sugar babe | Heidelberg Quintette ; Will Oakland | Male vocal quintet, with orchestra | vocalist, countertenor vocal | |
| Victor | B-13110 | 10-in. | 4/11/1913 | And the green grass grew all around | American Quartet | Male vocal quartet, with orchestra | vocalist, countertenor vocal | |
| Victor | B-13189 | 10-in. | 4/24/1913 | Teasing moon | Heidelberg Quintette ; Will Oakland | Male vocal quintet, with vocal solo and orchestra | vocalist, countertenor vocal | |
| Victor | B-13190 | 10-in. | 4/24/1913 | Ragtime regiment band | Heidelberg Quintette ; Will Oakland | Male vocal quintet, with vocal solo and orchestra | vocalist, countertenor vocal | |
| Victor | B-13191 | 10-in. | 4/24/1913 | You're a great big blue-eyed baby | Heidelberg Quintette | Male vocal quintet, with soloist and orchestra | vocalist, countertenor vocal | |
| Victor | B-13192 | 10-in. | 4/24/1913 | Give me your hand | Heidelberg Quintette ; Will Oakland | Male vocal quintet, with soloist and orchestra | vocalist, countertenor vocal | |
| Victor | B-13242 | 10-in. | 5/6/1913 | In apple blossom time (Down on the farm) | Heidelberg Quintette ; Will Oakland | Male vocal quintet, with soloist and orchestra | vocalist, countertenor vocal | |
| Victor | B-13243 | 10-in. | 5/6/1913 | You can't stop me from loving you | American Quartet | Male vocal quintet, with soloist and orchestra | vocalist, countertenor vocal | |
| Victor | B-13244 | 10-in. | 5/6/1913 | Floating down the river on the Alabam' | Heidelberg Quintette | Male vocal quintet, with soloist and orchestra | vocalist, countertenor vocal | |
| Victor | B-13369 | 10-in. | 5/29/1913 | That tinkling tango tune | American Quartet | Male vocal quintet, with orchestra | vocalist, countertenor vocal | |
| Victor | B-13370 | 10-in. | 5/29/1913 | The soul of the raging sea | American Quartet | Male vocal quintet, with orchestra | vocalist, countertenor vocal | |
| Victor | B-13371 | 10-in. | 5/29/1913 | Boom, tum, ta-ra-zing boom! | American Quartet | Male vocal quintet, with orchestra | vocalist, countertenor vocal | |
| Victor | B-13424 | 10-in. | 6/13/1913 | The curse of an aching heart | Will Oakland | Male vocal solo, with orchestra | vocalist, countertenor vocal | |
| Victor | B-13426 | 10-in. | 6/13/1913 | In the heart of the Kentucky hills | Heidelberg Quintette ; Will Oakland | Male vocal quintet, with soloist and orchestra | vocalist, countertenor vocal | |
| Victor | B-14064 | 10-in. | 11/13/1913 | Dream days | Will Oakland | Male vocal solo, with orchestra | vocalist, countertenor vocal | |
| Victor | B-14065 | 10-in. | 11/13/1913 | Sing rock-a-bye baby to me | Will Oakland | Male vocal solo, with orchestra | vocalist, countertenor vocal | |
| Victor | B-14091 | 10-in. | 11/18/1913 | I'm on my way to Mandalay | Henry Burr ; Albert Campbell ; Will Oakland | Male vocal trio, with orchestra | vocalist, countertenor vocal | |
| Victor | B-14095 | 10-in. | 11/19/1913 | You tell me your dream, I'll tell you mine | Billy Murray ; Will Oakland | Male vocal duet, with orchestra | vocalist, countertenor vocal | |
| Victor | B-14096 | 10-in. | 11/19/1913 | Evalyne | Billy Murray ; Will Oakland | Male vocal duet, with orchestra | vocalist, countertenor vocal | |
| Victor | B-14838 | 10-in. | 5/18/1914 | They're on their way to Mexico | Heidelberg Quintette | Male vocal quintet, with orchestra | vocalist, countertenor vocal | |
| Victor | B-14908 | 10-in. | 5/28/1914 | Harmony Bay | Heidelberg Quintette | Male vocal quintet, with orchestra | vocalist, countertenor vocal | |
| Victor | B-14910 | 10-in. | 5/28/1914 | Across the Rio Grande | Heidelberg Quintette | Male vocal quintet, with orchestra | vocalist, countertenor vocal | |
| Victor | B-14911 | 10-in. | 5/28/1914 | By the beautiful sea | Heidelberg Quintette | Male vocal quintet, with orchestra | vocalist, countertenor vocal | |
| Victor | B-14996 | 10-in. | 6/24/1914 | Meet me in blossom time | Henry Burr ; Albert Campbell ; Will Oakland | Male vocal trio, with orchestra | vocalist, countertenor vocal |
Citation
Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Oakland, Will," accessed April 25, 2024, https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/110630.
Oakland, Will. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved April 25, 2024, from https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/110630.
"Oakland, Will." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 25 April 2024.
DAHR Persistent Identifier
Linked Open Data Sources
LCNAR: Oakland, Will, 1883-1956 - http://id.loc.gov/authorities/names/no97077352
Wikidata: Will Oakland - http://www.wikidata.org/entity/Q8002992
VIAF: http://viaf.org/viaf/36528166
ISNI: 0000 0000 4087 9436 - http://www.isni.org/isni/0000000040879436
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